G5 tower keeps freezing

[LABachlr]

Having a problem with a G5. After running it for a while it suddenly freezes. There is an electrical burning odor. When I open up the tower, the Radeon 9800 graphics card is REALLY hot to the touch. However, I am not getting any artifacting or issues on the monitor. Could the overheating on a graphics card cause the computer to freeze? If not, what else could it be?

 

[Kees Buijs]

Having a problem with a G5. After running it for a while it suddenly freezes. There is an electrical burning odor. When I open up the tower, the Radeon 9800 graphics card is REALLY hot to the touch. However, I am not getting any artifacting or issues on the monitor. Could the overheating on a graphics card cause the computer to freeze? If not, what else could it be?

Difficult to say from a distance, but the video-cards looks like a winning bet to cause the problems. Check the fan on the card or try to cool it externally and look if it differs. Beter cooling should at least delay the freezing.


Good luck, Kees

 

[rubaiyat]

Sounds like your cooling system has either failed or is not up to the job, the G5 does run hot.

I have a similar problem with my old G4 and have to keep the side door open. Especially in hot weather, sometimes with afloor fan blowing over it.

System freezes can definitely be caused by overheating. In my case anything that requires major use of the CPU sets it off. eg ripping CDs, DVDs, 3D rendering etc.

You can test to see if this is what is happening in your case by using the Activities Monitor, in your utilities folder, to spy on how much cpu is being used. Also see if you can get a cooking thermometer inside the case near your cpu (but not touching it or you may zap it).

The burning smell really is the smell of cooking plastics from the heat.